NanoBook-Based Ultra Portable Laptop

On a similar note to the last post, here’s another sub-notebook on Brighthand:

“Last week, Via Technologies announced the NanoBook reference design for a small and light laptop computer based on one of its low-power processors. Via won’t make this device itself. Instead it is offering the design to other companies to produce. The first to sign up was Packard Bell, who will doubtless release its version in Europe.

More About the Via NanoBook Reference Design

The design Via has come up with is for a laptop that it believes is small enough to compare to a handheld computer. Devices based on it will have a clamshell shape, and be 9 inches wide, 6.7 inches deep, and 1.14 inches thick when closed. (230 mm by 171 mm by 29.4 mm). They will weigh about 1.9 pounds (850 g).

NanoBook models, naturally, will be built around a low voltage 1.2 GHz Via C7-M processor, and be capable of running either Windows XP or Windows Vista Basic. The design includes a 7-inch, 800-by-400-pixel (WVGA) touchscreen, a full-size keyboard, a touchpad, Wi-Fi, and Bluetooth. In addition, it includes a place for MobilityPLUS Modules. These allow the addition of Bluetooth VoIP phone, GPS, DVB, 3G/CDMA or Clock functionality.

Via has also included an Ethernet port, two USB 2.0 ports, and a 4-in-1 card reader.A 30 GB or 60 GB hard drive is part of the design.

Via doesn’t say what it believes laptops based on the NanoBook design will cost, but it does say it is “targeted at aggressive consumer price points”.

The company also says that these devices should offer up to 4.5 hours of battery life.”

An interesting development, maybe the long predicted demise of the PDA is really at hand?